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This is what we know about the Cardinals’ burgeoning running game and their running back situation:

1) Coach Bruce Arians has said he would like to get rookie running back Andre Ellington around 20 touches a game. He had 17 in his most recent game against Atlanta — 15 carries, two receptions — and Arians said the uptick, in his mind, might be best suited as a receiver to get Ellington into space.

2) Veteran Rashard Mendenhall is not only back practicing, but he will start Sunday, Arians said Friday (much to the chagrin of those out there who want it to be Ellington).

Are 20 touches enough for Ellington? Well, thanks to some research by my new co-worker Kyle Odegard (you’ve seen his work here and here and here), if the Cards get Ellington 20 touches, that’s right around the mark many of the top backs get. Here are some interesting numbers:

Player

Team

Touches per game

Eddie Lacy

G.B.

24.2*

Jamaal Charles

K.C.

24.1

Arian Foster

HOU

23.2**

Matt Forte

CHI

22.5

LeSean McCoy

PHI

21.9

Adrian Peterson

MIN

21.9

Reggie Bush

DET

21.9

Marshawn Lynch

SEA

20.7

Chris Johnson

TEN

19.5

Frank Gore

SF

19.3

Alfred Morris

WASH

18.0

DeAngelo Williams

CAR

17.8

Ryan Mathews

SD

17.3

Fred Jackson

BUF

16.1

Stevan Ridley

NE

15.9

* – Leaves out Sept. 15 game Lacy left due to injury. ** — Leaves out past two games shortened due to injury

Obviously Ellington’s touch average is well below that, but I think the Cards know they need to commit to Ellington more the rest of the season. Even the ultimate “workhorse” back, Adrian Peterson, isn’t getting the ball significantly more. Yes, a guy like Jamaal Charles is getting 24 touches — and he is listed at the exact same 5-11, 199 as Ellington — and perhaps Ellington will get to that point. But Charles wasn’t getting the ball that much as a rookie, and there is probably a reason for that.

I, like many, am anxious to see the post-154-yards-for-Ellington workload now that Mendenhall is back. It’ll be one of the top things to watch Sunday.

26 Responses
to “The touchy subject with Ellington”

Wonder how many RB’s the Cards keep next year…Mendahall wont be back, Williams wont be back, Smith is 50/50 maybe back because of special teams…to me I would look for another RB in round 6 this spring…maybe a A. Blue from LSU….to go with our two rookie rb’s this year….

Guys like Ellington and Gio are best when their touches are limited. I’m sure everyone saw that second TD run Gio made last Thursday. He only can do that because he was fresh and healthy in the 2nd half while the defense was more tired and worn out.

Let a guy like Mendenhall or Stepfan bang it inside 15 times a game, and use Ellington’s speed and quicks more intelligently — in space on runs like tosses and sweeps, and passes out of the backfield and from the slot.

While I understand Ellington only geting limited touches, I have been sorely disappointed in Mendenhall’s production. I would prefer having Stephan Taylor and Mendenhall in there as our primary backs. Of course, I’m not being paid the big bucks to make these decisions, but as a fan/observer Mendenhall is not the answer – not for next year, and not for now either.

I’m beginning to think that BA says a lot of things to the press to “stir the pot”. When reading the headlines on PFT that “Arians says Ellington will only get 20 ONLY 20 touches”, my first reaction was that was a Hell of a thing to advertise, when he is the best part of our game right now, then realized that was still more touches than he had last game, and with Mendenhall back, he must be working out some special packages for this Houston game. I can see Mendenhall’s value as a battering ram to wear down a defense, and despite all the criticism, I feel that he has been an upgrade over RBs of past years and has played an important role. The repeated attempts to gain yards up the center are at the direction of the play caller, so when this happens I have to think BA is wanting something less obvious to be occurring. Certainly, Stefan Taylor has been a great addition who gives our run game promise for the future and he reminds me a lot of Ed Reed in his prime. I guess I’m just so happy to have a run game that is winning us games that I’ll leave the scheme design to the guy who’s getting paid for his expertise and just be content with …WHATEVER GETS IT DONE! GOOD LUCK CARDS!